Chapter 112: Sister Teresa
Standing at the back of the crowd, I fixed my gaze on Daisy.
“I’m fine, really! No need to worry,” Daisy waved her hand with a sweet smile, “It’s just a little scratch… It doesn’t hurt much… I just, well, I’m a bit of a scaredy-cat. I get scared when I see bl**d… People have always teased me for being such a crybaby since I was little… So, um, sorry for causing you trouble…”
As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head with a hint of embarrassment. I shook my head and said, “It’s okay, as long as you’re fine.”
Even though I thought Daisy was a bit too delicate, well, she is a girl after all…
Not everyone can be a tough guy like me.
“Hey, that old man over there is the famous Melville, right?!”
Sarah suddenly exclaimed with excitement, and Sophia beside her rolled her eyes.
“Seriously? You just realized that now? You’re so slow on the uptake.”
“It’s really him! Will he be our teacher in the future?!”
“…He’s literally standing right there; what kind of stupid question is that?”
“Wow~ The Royal Academy is amazing—!”
Curiosity boiled inside me: “That old man, he’s impressive?”
I already knew he was a professor of Advanced Order Studies, but I wasn’t clear on how strong his Power of Order actually was.
“Oh, you bet! He’s been a genius of the Water Order known throughout the Royal City for years! They say he can conjure a water vortex taller than a person in an instant! He’s the exclusive teacher for the princes and princesses in the palace!”
Hmm… a person-high water vortex… um, is that really that impressive?
“Oh.”
That description doesn’t sound impressive at all! Whatever, why did I even ask her…
“And look over there! Standing at the foot of Mount Ahama… that’s the Giant Ram!”
Following Sarah’s finger, I spotted a muscled, bearded giant standing at the front of the Mount Ahama’s lineup, chatting animatedly with some students.
“Who’s that?”
“That’s the guy who can k*ll a Fire Bear Beast with his bare hands! He’s rumored to be the man who has reached the peak of body refining power. Peilo, haven’t you heard of him in the Empire?!”
“Nope, never heard of him.”
I wonder who’s stronger, him or Pagos… a fight would definitely be interesting.
“You’re so ignorant… and look, look over there…”
Sarah went on to introduce me to the two other teachers on the towers, but I wasn’t really paying attention anymore.
Because I noticed that more and more eyes were on me.
Most of them were male students, their gazes scorching and thick with some kind of intense desire. I became extremely annoyed; with a glare, I shot back at each of them, making them scratch their faces and turn away, pretending they didn’t care. But soon enough, they’d sneak another look back.
This made me furious. If my temper flared up, I’d have loved to drag them out and give them a good beating.
But I couldn’t do that… and I noticed some female students were also watching me with uncertain expressions, whispering to their companions from time to time… Some even shot me disdainful looks.
I didn’t need to hear them; I knew they were definitely not saying anything nice about me.
I quietly shifted behind Sarah, listening to her and Sophia chatting nonchalantly while I patiently awaited the ceremony to begin.
During this time, some scattered latecomer students arrived, and the teachers had them start running laps around the training ground. I estimated that with a training ground this big, each lap must be at least a kilometer long. Twenty laps would be twenty kilometers… It’s not easy for ordinary folks; and most of the latecomers were still girls!
“Good thing we’re not late…” Sophia patted her chest, looking slightly relieved. “Running like this really is a d*ath wish.”
Those two boys I had knocked over earlier arrived, and they seemed to have washed away their nosebleeds, their faces clean.
Reluctantly, they joined the running group.
“Ha! It’s those two idiots… they shouldn’t have messed with us!”
No one chimed in with Sophia’s statement.
Before long, the teachers entered.
The students erupted in excitement.
“Roar—”
“It’s Brown Bear Flame!”
“Master Aiden!”
“Lucia, I love you—!”
“Haha!”
“Wow! So many impressive people! Peilo, look quick!”
Beside me, Sarah shook my arm excitedly, her eyes twinkling with that sparkle of a girl meeting her idols.
Of course, anyone who could teach at the Royal Academy was no ordinary character, and their appearance triggered a huge commotion. Young people naturally idolize their heroes, just like fan culture in my past life. Too bad I didn’t know any of them…
Except for the elderly lady at the center of the mob—our beloved dean grandma.
She was wobbling over, her small, thin frame nearly disappearing among the taller teachers, looking unsteady as if she might fall over at any moment, and was currently being supported by a woman dressed like a nun… Hmm? Are there nuns among the academy’s teachers?
I nudged Sophia gently with my elbow: “Who’s that nun?”
“A nun?” Sophia seemed puzzled at first but then, upon realizing who I was talking about, looked at me incredulously. “Ah! You don’t know her?!”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
“You’re just like Sarah…,” Sophia rubbed her forehead in exasperation, looking pained. “That’s Sister Teresa! She’s a person of note in the Royal City… no, known worldwide… How could you not know her?”
“Sister Teresa?”
That name sounded familiar; I must have heard it somewhere. But where? I just couldn’t remember.
“She’s…”
“Please, Sister Teresa! The famous Sister Teresa! A few years ago, she was hailed as the best candidate to be the next Saint! Peilo, do you never read the news?!”
A few years ago… where was I even looking at the news…
“So, is she a Saint now?”
“No… It was originally supposed to be her, but then apparently something happened, and the spot for the Saint was given to Lady Margaret instead.”
I was surprised.
“They can just swap out a Saint?”
“It’s the Saint candidate, not the Saint… Anyway, they must have a special reason for the change; I’m not really sure…” At this point, Sophia leaned in towards me and lowered her voice conspiratorially, “There are lots of rumors about her. Some say that Sister Teresa suddenly refused to become a Saint the night before her consecration. Others say she’s been abandoned by the deity because no one has seen her use divine power since then… Just some gossip among the nobility; who knows what’s true?”
“Oh…”
So, she rejected the deity… or was rejected by one?
What kind of person is she… I’m curious.
“However, personally, I prefer another little-known explanation.”
Sophia twirled a small strand of hair around her finger, her warm breath brushing against my ear.
“What is it?”
“Becoming a Saint means being the embodiment of the church in the community, saving people from disasters… that involves traveling a lot. But Sister Teresa loves children; she’s the head of the Cataloma Orphanage, and she probably refused to become a Saint so she could continue taking care of the kids. I like this explanation because I think she’s an incredible person.”
Ah, now I remember.
So, Aili and Lucas coming here means that woman is the one taking care of them!
